{{More citations needed|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox song | name = Chikni Chameli | cover = Chikni Chameli first look image.jpg | alt = | caption = | type = song | artist = Shreya Ghoshal | album = Agneepath | language = Hindi | released = {{Start date|df=y|2011|12|16}} | format = | recorded = 2011 | studio = | venue = | genre = Filmi, pop-folk | length = {{Duration|m=5|s=03}} | label = Sony Music | composer = Ajay–Atul | lyricist = Amitabh Bhattacharya | producer = Ajay–Atul | misc = {{Audio sample | type = song | file = Chikni Chameli Official Full Song Video from Agnee.ogg }}{{External music video|{{YouTube|MQM7CNoAsBI|Chikni Chameli – The Official Song – Agneepath – Katrina Kaif}}|type=song}} }} "'''Chikni Chameli'''" is a song from the 2012 Indian Hindi action drama film ''Agneepath'', directed by Karan Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar. A remake of Marathi song "Kombadi Palali" from the 2006 film ''Jatra: Hyalagaad Re Tyalagaad, t''he song was first revealed on 16 December 2011 and features Katrina Kaif as the lead, along with Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt. The song was sung by Shreya Ghoshal and the dance choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.<ref>{{cite news |first=Aparna |last=Phadke |title=Chikni Chameli Sets Kombdi's Popularity Soaring |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-21/news-interviews/30538652_1_chikni-chameli-song-marathi-music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924053654/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-21/news-interviews/30538652_1_chikni-chameli-song-marathi-music |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2013 |agency=Times News Network (TNN) |work=The Times of India |location=Mumbai |access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref>
== Background == It is a remake of the Marathi song "Kombadi Palali"<ref>{{cite news |author=Rachana |date=22 December 2011 |title=''Chikni Chameli'' Katrina Recreates ''Kombdi Palali'' Magic! |url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/11/dec/22-chikni-chameli-katrina-recreates-kombdi-padali-magic-121101.asp |work=Glamsham |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215111540/http://glamsham.com/movies/scoops/11/dec/22-chikni-chameli-katrina-recreates-kombdi-padali-magic-121101.asp |archive-date=15 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> from the film ''Jatra'' (2006),<ref name="times">{{Cite news |first=Meena |last=Iyer |title=Bollywood is obsessing over Marathi music |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Bollywood-is-obsessing-over-Marathi-music/articleshow/11338276.cms |agency=Times News Network (TNN) |work=The Times of India |location=Mumbai |date=3 January 2012 |access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref> which was acted by Bharat Jadhav & Kranti Redkar and sung by Anand Shinde & Vaishali Samant.
The music is composed by the National award-winning Marathi composer duo Ajay and Atul Gogavale, known as Ajay–Atul, who had earlier worked on ''Natrang'', ''Viruddh'', ''Singham'' and ''My Friend Pinto''.
== Music video == Chikni Chameli is an item song, although the video is provocative, it also boost the plot forward as it shows the communication between the hero and villain. It consists of Katrina Kaif, a prostitute hired by Sanjay Dutt's character, Kanchana to welcome Hrithik Roshan's character, Vijay. The official music video has over 478 million views as of March 2025 on the video sharing application YouTube.
=== Filming === The choreographer for the song's music video was Ganesh Acharya and Amitabh Battacharya was the lyricist.
Karan Malhotra, in an interview revealed how he got the inspiration for the song after an assistant sound designer, Lochan Kanvinde, recommended the original song, "Kombadi Palali". The choreography was not easy for Katrina Kaif, she expressed the difficulty in an interview by saying "The response to Chikni Chameli has been fun so far. It was hard work. It was very fast and it was not a style I was used to, but I took it as a challenge. I think we all went for it as a team and did the best we could. I am happy people are liking it".
During the song, most of the dancing done was on barefoot, which took place on cement. This injured the soles of Katrina Kaif, as revealed by Ganesh Acharya in an interview, “The song is a rustic number, so she had to dance bare-feet on the uneven ground. Halfway through the number, she injured the soles of her feet as the continuous pressure peeled off her skin. Despite everyone telling her to attend to her injuries, she continued with the dance without a whimper”.
=== Synopsis === {{empty section|date=June 2019}}
== Reception == The song was well received by critics and audiences alike.<ref>{{cite news |title=Katrina's Chikni Chameli goes viral on YouTube |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/katrina-s-chikni-chameli-goes-viral-on-youtube/story-mwsCgzEsgwTQWyFHb0KBoJ.html |agency=Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) |work=Hindustan Times |location=New Delhi |access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable" !Year !Award Ceremony !Category !Recipient !Result !Reference(s) |- | rowspan="2" |2012 | rowspan="2" |Mirchi Music Awards | Female Vocalist of The Year | Shreya Ghoshal | {{won}} | rowspan="2" |<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2012/hindi/nomination.html|title=Nominations – Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2012|website=radiomirchi.com|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2012/hindi/winners_list.html|title=Winners – Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2012|website=radiomirchi.com|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> |- | Music Composer of the Year | Ajay–Atul | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2" |2012 | rowspan="2" |People's Choice Awards | Female Vocalist of The Year | Shreya Ghoshal | {{won}} | rowspan="2" | |}
==References == {{reflist}} * {{Cite web |last=Productions |first=Dharna |date=27 December 2011 |title=Chikni Chameli- Making |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riq-un2et4A&si=685oWjMClw6z8SdZ }}
{{Shreya Ghoshal}}
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Category:Songs written for Hindi-language films Category:2012 songs Category:Shreya Ghoshal songs Category:Songs with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya Category:Songs with music by Ajay–Atul Category:Pop-folk songs